Page 29 of Over and Above (Mount Hope #4)

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Eric

Nothing like a family emergency to underscore the silliness of my daring to consider dating. I needed to center the kids, not my own wants and needs. And since my brain seemed unable to settle on what those wants were, it was probably just as well that John had saved me from replying to Magnus.

Magnus wanted to take a risk on us. Funny how the bartender was braver than the paramedic. To him, risk meant reward, whereas for me, risk meant a fall I wasn’t ready to take. Reconciling those two viewpoints felt impossible. Instead, I charged into the house, intent on dealing with the situation at hand.

John led the way to the kitchen, where Maren was pacing back and forth, rubbing her lower back. Diesel walked behind her, doing something on his phone at the same time.

“Did you call Marissa?” I asked.

“She’s on the way.” Diesel held up his phone before gesturing at the back door. “And so is more snow.”

“It’s not the full moon yet.” Wren sounded genuinely perplexed as to why the baby might have a timetable of its own.

“Not helpful.” Maren pivoted on one foot to glare at all three of her siblings.

“How about John and I take Wren to the movies?” Rowan suggested, pitching his voice more soothing than usual. “We can walk in case the snow gets worse. But that would give Maren some privacy.”

Wren made an indignant noise. “I intended to document?—”

“That sounds wonderful.” Maren gave Rowan a grateful smile.

“How far apart are your contractions?” I asked Maren as the other three kids prepared to leave, grabbing coats and gloves. I took a cue from Rowan’s gentle tone.

“Hard to say.” She waved both hands. “Some are far apart. Some are closer.”

“I’m timing with an app.” Diesel was only too happy to show off some sort of clock app on his phone. “Should I fill the tub?”

“Not yet. I don’t know.” Groaning, Maren stopped in front of me and let her head fall on my shoulder. “I think I just want to lie down.”

“Marissa’s here.” Magnus returned from the front of the house, followed by a bundled-up Marissa, curly hair poking out from under a striped hand-knit hat. I’d missed the doorbell in the flurry of the teens leaving. Somewhere in all the excitement, the dogs had flopped on their beds in the breakfast nook.

Even his dogs belong here. Magnus hadn’t given me an ultimatum, but we were at a tipping point. Either I released him from this fling, free to move on personally and residentially, or I gave him what he wanted and went public. Both options made me more than a little nauseous. The start of a headache pounded at my temples as Marissa greeted Maren.

“A rest sounds like a great idea.” She rubbed Maren’s shoulders as she steered Maren toward the basement stairs. “Let’s head downstairs, get you comfortable, and see where things are at.”

Once we were alone, Magnus stepped toward me. “Look?—”

“We can talk later.” I held up a hand. If he touched me, I might shatter, and that mess was the last thing this day needed. “We need to focus on the kids now.”

“I’m sorry.” His mouth twisted. I hated how pained he looked, none of his usual good cheer.

“Don’t be sorry.”

“Well, I’m sorry for the timing.” Magnus rotated his neck from side to side like I was being especially tiring. “How about I start food? People are probably full from the party, but I could start a soup for later. Something that reheats well.”

“Sounds good.” I headed for the cabinet with the stockpots. “I’ll help.”

Working alongside Magnus probably wasn’t the smartest choice, but the alternative was to be alone with my thoughts, worrying about Maren, the baby, and Magnus, all three. By contrast, chopping onions and following Magnus’s terse requests was far easier.

However, something strange happened as we worked. Or rather something ordinary. We fell into our usual coordinated rhythm. I chopped while he sautéed, and I anticipated his need for wine to deglaze the pan.

“Perfect. Thank you.” Magnus was gracious as ever, not all sullen. Apparently sensing that small talk wasn’t happening, he switched on some soft music using his phone. Even my speakers thought he belonged here. “Could you tackle the potatoes next?”

“Absolutely.” I like this more than cooking with Montgomery. I’d ducked similarly disloyal thoughts for months. I’d loved my husband with my whole self, and if cancer hadn’t stolen our future, I’d be happily married. And not with Magnus. I avoided comparisons because they were as pointless as they were painful.

If Magnus and I were a slow dance in the living room to a pop song, Montgomery and I had been a perfectly executed waltz. One wasn’t better than the other, but every so often, the differences pricked at my conscience, made me feel like I was cheating on someone who’d been gone nearly two years.

Wouldn’t he want you to be happy? Magnus had asked. And I’d automatically answered yes, but despite the fact that he’d given me his blessing to find someone new, guilt and doubt, slithery and slick, continued to pool in the dark corners of my soul.

“Something smells good.” Marissa wandered up from the basement as the soup base bubbled away.

“How’s Maren?” I looked up as I peeled the last potato.

“Resting.” She quirked her full lips. “I’m pretty sure this was a false alarm, or rather, prodromal labor. But the weather people are predicting a big storm tonight, and I’m reluctant to leave and be wrong. Would you mind if I hang out overnight? I don’t want to be an imposition?—”

“You’re not.” I waved away her concern. “Of course you can stay.”

“It’ll be fun,” Magnus added. “A sleepover party. Baby watch.”

“There’s plenty of room.” I said the words, already planning to sleep on the third floor and let Marissa have the primary. A weird tingle raced up my spine. The house had accommodated newlyweds, new children, growing teens, friends in need, visitors, and more. Houses and hearts alike always did manage to find room for one more.